Top 10 Questions About Abdominal Exercises

Answer: In 2005 researcher Michele Olson presented the results of a study that measured abdominal muscle activity during five Pilates mat exercises. Participants performed the Pilates exercises and also performed basic crunch exercise for comparison. Her results showed that the abdominal muscles were activated during all five Pilates exercises. However, the Teaser exercise and Roll-Up challenged rectus abdominis muscle more than the basic crunch. The external obliques were activated more during all of the Pilates exercises when compared with the basic crunch. The Criss-Cross Exercise (also called the Bicycle Crunch), in particular, was the most effective for the external obliques. The Teaser exercise also activated the hip flexors to a fairly substantial degree and should be saved for the very fit athlete.